make the public administration the mirror of the ill-conceived and incongruous projects of faction; rather than the agent of consistent and wholesome plans, digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests. However, combinations or associations of the above description may, now and then, answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things to become potent engines; by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying, afterwards, the very engines, which had lifted them to unjust dominion."

Were ever truer words? Was ever warning more impressive? Are we not, now, surrounded by these very evils? Are we not, now, more than, threatened with these very dangers? I speak, with no prejudice, of any of these movements of the day. I hold them all, alike, as wrong in principle, and perilous in result. To none of them, do I owe any thing.

"Nullius addictus, jurare in verba inagistri.
Sworn to no master; of no sect, am I."

Whatever name they bear, whatever object they profess, I am against them all. Under a stern and grinding despotism, men may find combination necessary; though they combine, with halters round their necks. But, here, where all can think, where all can read, where all can write, where all can print; where all men claim that they are equal; and the will of the majority is the admitted law; that, which cannot be obtained, without a special organization, must be wrong: and the organi

zation, which relies on secrecy, should be regarded with suspicion; and distrusted, lest it prove destructive.*

From the proposition, that organizations are dangerous to free institutions, I pass to that, which is its counterpart. The individual exercise of the right of suffrage, in the integrity of freedom, is their only safety. In a free government, rights and responsibilities are reciprocal. Equal rights involve equal responsibili ties. The man, who delegates his responsibilities, has conveyed away his rights. VOTE is from Votum. Its first sense is, a wish, or will. The wisher, for a measure, His vote is his will.

or for a man, becomes a voter. Who else can wish for him? To whom, can he depute his will? In what other way, can the wish of the nation be ascertained, than by the wishes, or votes, of a majority? To whom, but to its duly constituted representatives, can it intrust the expression of its will? The attempt to forestall it, through conventions, or to control it by associations, is virtually to surrender the government, to a few ambitious demagogues, and, however little suspected, is the longest first step, that a nation can take, toward the surrender of its liberties. The besetting sin of man is selfishness: and it does not take a hundred years, to pervert a government, which was framed by the noblest hearts, and in the purest patriotism, into a machine, to work the ambitious and self-seek

* It may be supposed that my argument is addressed to the association, commonly spoken of, as "Know Nothings." But, it is not so. I know nothing of them, or of any other organization, present or historical. I but reproduce the words of Washington; to enforce them, in the guidance of the young Americans, committed to my care.

VOL. IV.-20

with God's blessing, on our faithfulness, shall be our heritage, forever.

In this College, next to the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, the Constitution of these United States is carefully expounded and enforced. The birthday of the Union is the birth-day of the College. The annual recognition of its return exults in its twin blessedness. And, to the hearts of the young men, that shall go out from here, the glorious banner of the stars and stripes will ever bear emblazoned, on its broad and sweeping folds, the precious sign of the all-conquering Cross.

And it must be so, dear friends, if we would keep the blessings, we enjoy. They come to us, from GOD. We hold them, at His hands. We can only keep them, with His blessing. It is impossible, that, in an age, like this, and in a country, such as ours, questions and differences should not spring up. It grows inevitably from our "E PLURIBUS." It is inseparable from that which makes the strength and safety of our "UNUM." On the one hand, be not alarmed by them. On the other, neither cherish them, in your own hearts; nor irritate them, in the hearts of others. From the midst of them all, and, far above them all, look up, to the stars of the Union. Remember the fields, where it was asserted. Remember the blood, with which it was sealed. Shall any separate between the plains of Yorktown and the heights of Bunker Hill?

Will any cease to be

the countrymen of Putnam or of Marion?

Will any

one consent, that the orbit, in which he revolves, shall

Beautiful

not revolve about our central WASHINGTON? analogy, between our civil constitution, and the system of the Universe! UNUM, E PLURIRUS, alike the law of both. Each, governed and sustained, alike, by forces, from the centre, and by forces, from the circumference. The rest, the beauty, the comfort, the glory, the perpetuity of both, secured by their mutual reaction; and enjoyed, in that perfect equilibrium, which, in its noiseless and unrippled serenity, perpetuates alike the concord of all the States, and the harmony of all the spheres. That this may ever be so, will depend upon GOD'S favour, and, so, upon our prayers. And, in the view of this, and, for its sake, let me commend, to you, who love the Union, and desire its perpetuity, to consecrate it, ever, in your devotions, before GOD. From every fireside, as from every altar, let the "Prayer for Congress " rise, from the true heart of Christian patriotism: "that all things may be so ordered, and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us, for all generations." In the fervent words, in which David's pious patriotism found utterance, " O, pray, for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee: peace be within thy walls, and plenteousness within thy palaces." “GOD is our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof rage and swell;

and though the mountains shake, at the tempest of the same."

"Sail on, Sail on, O, ship of State,
Sail on, O UNION, strong and great!
Humanity, with all its fears,

With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging, breathless, on thy fate!
We know what Master laid thy keel,
What workman wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what a forge and what a heat,
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock;
'Tis of the wave, and not the rock :
"Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent, made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea :

Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,

Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,

Our faith, triumphant, o'er our fears,

Are all with thee, are all with thee!"-LONGFellow.